The Imagined Audience of Israeli Army Radio: A Historical Perspective

Since 1950, the Israel Defense Forces has operated the Galei Tzahal radio station, which broadcasts to the general public. Over the years, substantial changes have taken place in the station's programming, as it grew from a marginal broadcasting body into a major radio station with high ratings. This study examines a particular aspect of the station's history—its imagined audience—and the fundamental changes in the perception of that audience over time.